Medical Examiner: Man who fell to death at Reliant was drunk

Police investigate accident

A man who fell to his death sliding down an escalator at Reliant Stadium during a Texans' game was drunk, according to the Harris County Medical Examiner.

Officials said Jonathan Kelly, 25, fell near the Coca-Cola entrance at the stadium while he was trying to slide down an escalator at 8 p.m. on Aug. 30. Stadium officials said he fell approximately 60 feet to his death.

Several fans witnessed the fall and screamed.

Kelly was rushed to a hospital, but died as a result of his injuries.

The bank of escalators where the accident occurred were closed during the investigation.

Kelly was at the stadium with friends for the Houston Texans' last preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings. Investigators determined Kelly's blood-alcohol level was 0.16, which is above the legal limit of 0.08.

In 2011, a firefighter attending a Texas Rangers game in Arlington died when he fell from the left field stands while reaching for a baseball tossed his way by All-Star outfielder Josh Hamilton.

Shannon Stone fell about 20 feet onto concrete when he tumbled over the left-field railing after catching the ball and falling into an area out of sight from the field as the Rangers faced Oakland. Cooper Stone, his 9-year-old son, witnessed the fall during the second inning.

In April, a statue of Stone and his son was dedicated to Rangers fans in front of the home plate gate at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Railings also were raised throughout the ballpark before this season.

In 2010 at Rangers Ballpark, a fan fell 30 feet from the second deck while trying to catch a foul ball. Tyler Morris suffered a fractured skull and sprained ankle.